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RUGBY: Wilson keeps the faith at Christmas (From Wiltshire Times)

RUGBY: Wilson keeps the faith at Christmas 1:30pm Friday 23rd December 2011 in Sport Skip social links Print Email DAVID Wilson refuses to see Bath’s tough festive fixture list as anything other than an opportunity to jump-start a season that has ground to a halt in the last six weeks. Bath travel to improving Northampton Saints tomorrow (3.15pm), with a home appointment against fourth-placed London Irish on New Year’s Day followed by a trip to Aviva Premiership champions Saracens on January 8. With one win in their last seven matches the Rec men – licking their wounds after a record 52-27 Heineken Cup defeat to European champions Leinster in Dublin last weekend – are in wretched form. But the 26-year-old believes keeping a positive mindset is key to reversing the club’s current woes. “We’re going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment, but you need a positive environment in the squad in those times,’’ said the ex-Newcastle Falcons forward. “If players do something wrong, there has to be accountability, but it’s also important we keep on believing what were are doing is right. “We have tough games ahead, but it could be the turning point of our season if we put results together and climb the table. “There was a similar situation last season where we had a bad run but then had a very good 10 games after it.’’ The Leinster thumping ended their Heineken Cup hopes, but Wilson believes there are still positive aspects to take to Franklin’s Gardens tomorrow. “Leinster are a very good side and we just didn’t play to our best,’’ added the 16-times capped front row man. “You might get away with some of the errors we made in a Premiership match but not in front of 50,000 people in the Aviva Stadium. “At times, we attacked well, scrummed well and performed okay in the lineout. We have to try and take those positives to Northampton. “It (the Premiership) is still a pretty tight table and I believe we have still got good enough players here.’’ Dates and times for Bath’s final two Heineken Cup matches have been confirmed. Bath travel to Montpellier on Saturday, January 14, (2pm) and conclude the pool matches at home to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, January 21 (1.30pm). Read these Sport stories